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New: Tech 21 VT-500 Bass Amp

#163
I tried one out today through a Bergantino CN212. I can say that if you want an amp that can give you everything from clean tone to warm tube boost to mayhem distortion, this is your amp. No stomp box needed. It does all of these things very well. One nice feature is the blend knob that allows you to crank up some distortion with the drive knob, but adjust the amount of it that you want with your clean sound - or you can just crank it to max and have only the distorted sound. The Character knob makes quick tonal changes corresponding to different classic amps including, of course, the SVT and flip top. It does pretty much everything the current VT Bass pedal does and more, including a DI out with ground lift and pad.

Its 500 watts should be plenty for most small to medium-large gigs (with enough speakers) and price-wise it comes in right at a buck a watt. Cool amp that won't break the bank.
 
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#164
Munjibunga said:
I tried one out today through a Bergantino CN212. I can say that if you want an amp that can give you everything from clean tone to warm tube boost to mayhem distortion, this is your amp. No stomp box needed. It does all of these things very well. One nice feature is the blend knob that allows you to crank up some distortion with the drive knob, but adjust the amount of it that you want with your clean sound - or you can just crank it to max and have only the distorted sound. The Character knob makes quick tonal changes corresponding to different classic amps including, of course, the SVT and flip top. It does pretty much everything the current VT Bass pedal does and more, including a DI out with ground lift and pad.

Its 500 watts should be plenty for most small to medium-large gigs (with enough speakers) and price-wise it comes in right at a buck a watt. Cool amp that won't break the bank.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the interesting information.
 
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#166
Spector2112 said:
Great reviews, and of course they are fueling my GAS.
Did you try it with their 112 cabs yet?
Or was this WITH their cabs?
Click to expand...
It was with a 12 cab and 15 cab I had on hand. I have not yet heard their 112.
 
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#167
In theory the VT-500 should sound and perform much like a VT Bass DI into a power amp of comparable wattage.

Granted, the VT-500 has the ability to mid shift and the VT Bass DI can disable the cabinet sim.

I am curious to hear feedback to this from those having experience with both devices. Perhaps Tech 21 can help clarify.

Cheers!
 
#168
CharlieC said:
In theory the VT-500 should sound and perform much like a VT Bass DI into a power amp of comparable wattage.
Granted, the VT-500 has the ability to mid shift and the VT Bass DI can disable the cabinet sim.
I am curious to hear feedback to this from those having experience with both devices. Perhaps Tech 21 can help clarify.
Click to expand...

I'm with you on this, as my current gigging amp is a VT-DI as a preamp feeding the effects loop of my GK MB500. I am quite pleased with that, but am interested by a one-box solution providing the same function.
 
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#169
CharlieC said:
In theory the VT-500 should sound and perform much like a VT Bass DI into a power amp of comparable wattage.

Granted, the VT-500 has the ability to mid shift and the VT Bass DI can disable the cabinet sim.

I am curious to hear feedback to this from those having experience with both devices. Perhaps Tech 21 can help clarify.

Cheers!
Click to expand...
Bufalo said:
I'm with you on this, as my current gigging amp is a VT-DI as a preamp feeding the effects loop of my GK MB500. I am quite pleased with that, but am interested by a one-box solution providing the same function.
Click to expand...

I have not yet A/B'd the VTB-500 with a powr amp with a VT bass DI. But from my long standing use of the RBI and power amp, I would say that the all-in-one solution of the VTB-500 can give an extremely similar response - although I do feel it's strictly clean use is limited compared to a LARGER power amp (what I have - should be similar with same size) and the RBI. In other words, the clean response significantly differs than that of a much larger power amp and an RBI. With a VTbass pedal I don't yet know. The distortion response appears to go way beyond that of the RBI. The mid-SHIFT and BITE are interesting as well.
 
#170
Here is a recording I made through my former VTBass pedal into ADAT, using my old 2008 4003 Vintage Special strung with TI Jazz Rounds.

4003JPSVP_1200_7124.jpg


4003JPSVP_1200_7114.jpg
 

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#173
When I can finally pull the trigger, I really think this will be the amp for me.
I'm looking forward to more of them getting out in the wild to see how they get along with different cab formats, like a 210 x 2 vertical stack, or a 112 x 2 vertical stack.
I've been specifically eyeing either a stack of Avatar SB210s, or a stack of SB126 cabs, (8ohms per cab in each scenario), leaning toward the SB210 stack.
 
#175
Spector2112 said:
When I can finally pull the trigger, I really think this will be the amp for me.
I'm looking forward to more of them getting out in the wild to see how they get along with different cab formats, like a 210 x 2 vertical stack, or a 112 x 2 vertical stack.
I've been specifically eyeing either a stack of Avatar SB210s, or a stack of SB126 cabs, (8ohms per cab in each scenario), leaning toward the SB210 stack.
Click to expand...

Yes it will be interesting to see what different cabs folks are using.
 
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#176
Finally got a chance to test more with my active Cirrus bass. I had run the batteries down and just made a note to myself: Remember to unplug your Cirrus. Now, to repeat that 50 times so as to commit to memory.
 
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#179
questions to @tech21nyc :

1) Is it possible to mod the front loop switch and implement a 1/4'' jack output instead? so the loop can be activated externally with a momentary switch. That would be very cool.

2) If I use another preamp into the Return, do I still have the DI out?
 
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#180
crguti said:
questions to @tech21nyc :

1) Is it possible to mod the front loop switch and implement a 1/4'' jack output instead? so the loop can be activated externally with a momentary switch. That would be very cool.

2) If I use another preamp into the Return, do I still have the DI out?
Click to expand...

It is possible but this is an invasive mod and not something we would offer. It would require adding a relay to the circuit. You'd be best off consulting a local amp tech. I have to advise you that any mod would void the warranty. What exactly are you trying to do? Most effects units have bypass capabilities.

Yes the DI is after the efx loop. So I think I know what you're trying to do. Have two different preamps (the amp's) and the one in the efx loop to switch between. One easy way to do this is to use a pedal with two outputs to send your signal to both the VT Bass 500's input and the external preamp. There is a fairly simple way to do this with a splitter pedal and an ABY pedal. A Boss TU-2 or TU-3 can be used for this or a stereo chorus type pedal etc. Once you have the guitar's signal routed to the input of both units you need to send the EFX send of the VT Bass 500 to the A side of the ABY pedal. Send the output of your external preamp to the B side of the ABY pedal, Finally take a cable from the I/O port of the ABY pedal and send that to the amp's FX return jack. Now when you switch the ABY pedal you can have the VT Bass 500 preamp, your external preamp or both. You can also run efx between the ABY's I/O port and the FX return.
 
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